Sheffield RUFC 39 - 14 Hull RUFC

Team Selection for Saturday 13th April 2024

16. Chris Hooper
14. Jamie Flint
13. Will Smith
12. Kaj Douglas
11. Rylie Bonsall
10. Callum Posa
9. Elliot Fisher

1. Ben Whitney
2. Rhodri Campbell
22. Jake Hicklin
4. Archie Crapper
5. Dom Parsons (Capt.)
6. Alex Fawdry
7. Matt Adcock
8. Ryan Burrows
Replacements: -
20. Angus Hughes (FR)
24. Aaron Lonsdale (FR)
3. George Rogers (FR)
21. Charlie Flinders
17. Cameron Catleugh

Following the trip away to Hull Ionians last weekend, which I am sure we would all like to forget, if not expunge from the records, we faced a somewhat resurgent Hull RUFC, who have wins over both Tynedale and Fylde in there last two league matches. Sheffield were more than happy to welcome the return of second row, Archie Crapper and backrow, Alex Fawdry, who were greatly missed last week for both their lineout work and power around the park. On the down side, we were to be without Jason Hignell for this encounter. Kaj Douglas returned to the team at inside centre, pushing Will Smith and Jamie Flint out to outside centre and right wing. Cameron Catleugh dropped to the bench, Chris Hooper moved from left wing to fullback and Rylie Bonsall, a colt came in for his first match in the first team, on the left wing.

Both teams began the match with real intent with the majority of the action being between the two 22-mettre lines. Both teams offered up penalties, and Hull seemed to have just about the best of the opening exchanges. However, when Alex Fawdry stole Hill’s ball at a lineout, inside Sheffield’s half, Chris Hooper was able to make a break, leading to a Sheffield penalty for a high tackle. Sheffield kicked to touch inside Hull’s 22-metre and secured the ball, before driving a maul toward the try line for Alex Fawdry to score the opening try, unfortunately, not converted. When Hull restarted Sheffield made a complete hash of securing the ball and Hull were gifted a lineout inside Sheffield’s 22-metre. However, Hull lost the ball forward and Sheffield cleared to touch, and then from the resulting lineout Hull gave up a penalty to enable Sheffield to clear further down the pitch. A series of driving mauls and breaks by Sheffield saw Hull give up several more penalties and Sheffield were soon camped on Hull’s 5-metre line. The penalty count was too much for our referee, and prop forward, Jamie Major was dispatched to the sin-bin. Sheffield took full advantage to allow Jake Hicklin to go over for a second try. The team’s kicking boots had been left in the changing room and another conversion attempt went astray in the blustery conditions, but Sheffield led by 10 points to nil after nineteen minutes.

Sheffield kept the pressure on and not too long afterwards, Sheffield wee back on the attack in Hull territory. A penalty taken quickly by Elliot Fisher broke through the initial defensive line, and playing under penalty advantage flanker Matt Adcock powered over the line to score the third try for Sheffield. Elliot Fisher knocked the conversion over and the lead was out to 17 points to nil after twenty-five minutes. Hull seemed to take this as the spark to get themselves going and they began to put pressure on Sheffield in all areas. Having got the benefit of s co and of penalties, Hull were on the attack close to Sheffield’s try line and forced a further penalty at the scrum in front of the posts. They moved the ball smartly to the left for fullback, Reece Dean to dive over for the opening try for Hull. Dean converted his own try to reduce Sheffield’s lead to 17 points to 7 after thirty-seven minutes. The last twist in the tail in the first half was to follow almost immediately from the restart when Hull kicked back to Sheffield, Sheffield replied and Hull kicked again to put the ball into touch. Sheffield secured the ball and once again set up the driving maul, Hull gave away a penalty. Elliot Fisher went quickly and was pulled down with a further penalty and a yellow card for Hull’s second row Liam Regardsoe, something that both he and Hull would come to regret later in the match. Sheffield kicked to touch, but Hull stole the ball at the lineout and kicked out to end the half.

Hull kicked off the second half and Sheffield messed up the catch for the ball and Hull had a lineout just inside Sheffield’s 22-metre. Sheffield conceded a penalty and Hull decided to take the scrum following their success there just before the half-time break. Once again, they moved the ball smartly away from the scrum for centre Bureta Faraimo to go over just to the right of the posts. Reece Dean added the conversion and Sheffield lead was now reduced to just three points at 17 points to 14 after just three minutes of the second half. However, this was to be Hull’s last Hurrah of the day as Sheffield decided to take control and Hull began to err on the penalty count. A series of penalties saw Sheffield battering on the door once more. Chris hooper made yet another incursion into the Hull defence, another penalty followed and Sheffield kicked to Hull’s 22-metre for the lineout and Sheffield drove for the try line again, and another penalty ensued. Sheffield kicked to the corner once more. The drive for the line was on again, but Hull held firm, the ball went right and centre Will Smith barged over for the fourth try. The conversion was missed once again, but the lead was now out to 22 points to 14 after forty-nine minutes.

In the next few minutes, Hull managed to steal Sheffield’s ball at two lineouts, but failed to hang on to it long enough to do any real damage to Sheffield. A series of penalties gave Sheffield field position and attacking ball some ten metres out from Hull’s try line. Alex Fawdry secured the ball and Rhodri Cambell made a break, the ball moved right again for right wing, Jamie Flint to score the fifth try our on the left. The conversion was popped over by Elliot Fisher to take the lead out to 29 points to 14 after fifty-five minutes. The pressure remained firmly on Hull and Sheffield were once again back on the attack. Callum Posa put Will Smith through a defensive hole and a penalty followed. Alex Fawdry made an incisive break and handed off to Jake Hicklin, before Ben Whitney scored wide out on the left. The conversion was missed again, but Sheffield’s lead was out to 34 points to 14 after sixty minutes. The restart saw things go completely pair shaped for Hull and second row Liam Regardsoe, who received his second yellow card of the match and therefore, a red card for two yellow cards. Sheffield pushed hard back into Hull territory and once more opened up their depleted defence. Moving the ball smartly to the left under penalty advantage, Chris Hooper received the ball in centre field and scampered in his inimitable way to score the seventh Sheffield try, again wide out on the left. Another conversion was missed, but he Sheffield was out to 39 points to 14 on sixty-eight minutes. Hull put in some strong work, but once again the propensity to give away penalties kept them as much at bay as did Sheffield’s defence. With the match almost at and end, Hull replacement Charlie Rawlins as yellow carded for a deliberate knock down, and with Hull down to thirteen players the match was brought to a close.

Hull RUFC team: -

15. Reece Dean; 14. Duell Trueman; 13. Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz; 12. Bureta Faraimo; 11. Keane Naylor; 10. Harrison Astley; 9. David Davison:
1. Jamie Major; 2. Mike Jobling; 3. Tom Bairstow; 4. Billy Addy; 5. Liam Regardsoe; 6. Dan McDougal; 7’ Alec Renouf; 8. Will Hall (Capt.);
Replacements: -
16. Charlie Beech; 17. Joshua Papa; 18. Harry Dawkins; 19. Jamie Shaul; 20. Charlie Rawlins.

Scoring: -